Events, Organisations & Operators,

A new sustainability report presented at the Phocuswright Conference has revealed a considerable gap between what people say and what they do when it comes to green travel.
The results were presented by Madeline List, Phocuswright senior research analyst, and shone a light on the preferences of thousands of travellers from across the US and Europe.
In the US and EU, around half of the respondents said they were more likely to choose transport based on carbon footprint rather than convenience. 
But, when asked why they chose certain transport options during recent travels, a much smaller number cited environmental factors as a reason.
Respondents said they were more likely to choose a hotel for its sustainability credentials than price. 
But of those that had booked, only 6-13 per cent said environmental reasons were among their top five considerations.
“People are more likely to follow through on what they say if they will directly feel the burn from not doing so,” said List. 
“For example, around half would rather stay somewhere less famous and less crowded – and many people actually follow through on this, as they are more directly affected by not doing so.  ADVERTISEMENT“With environmental decisions, people care, but they do not directly feel the consequences of not following through on sustainable choices.
“Likewise, travellers want their money to benefit the communities they visit. 
“But when asked if they ever checked to see if what they bought was locally sourced, only one-in-four said they did. 
“Emotionally, people care, but they’re not taking the practical steps needed make those decisions.”
Travelers find sustainability confusing
Do travellers know what it actually means to travel sustainably? 
The majority of respondents said that they find the standards for environmentally conscious travel confusing – and the ones that are sustainability-orientated already are the ones that are more confused than the people that don’t care. 
Some 19-26 per cent also believe that they don’t travel frequently enough to have a significant impact on the environment. 
Event those that take two trips a year don’t think they have much of an impact, but they are a sizeable part of travel.
Travelers were split over who should take responsibility for sustainability – many believe it’s the role of government, whereas others think it’s travel providers, destination organisations, or travellers themselves.
Travelers think it should be the responsibility of destination organizations to keep tourism money within the local community, which would explain why they’re not asking where their money goes after they spend it.
Some 36-47 per cent of travellers also think sustainable travel options are more expensive. 
And the more someone think about sustainability at home, the more likely they are to believe it presents more expensive travel options. 
Some ten-15 per cent more was the accepted premium people said they would pay for greener travel.
“I don’t think this belief-behaviour gap is coming from a bad place,” said List. 
“They want to believe that they will make the right decision, but it’s important [for travel providers] to understand that this is not always the reality.” 
List finished by giving her practical suggestions for the travel industry: 

Increase sustainable options – make them more available and viable to begin with – they have to be appealing to travellers as a whole, and shouldn’t just be about sustainability.
Green options need to be easy to find and prominent.
Show that sustainable is accessible and affordable – push sustainable options at various price points.
Help travellers understand that sustainability goes beyond the environment – it extends to many other areas too.
Educate, educate, educate – inspire travellers to aspire for collective change; speak to the why not just the what, build understanding from the ground up.

More Information
More than 1,300 attendees are currently at The Phocuswright Conference, which is taking place this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Find out more here.

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Phocuswright, the leading global travel industry research authority and producer of the annual Phocuswright Conference, has urged the hospitality industry to rethink the traditional property management systems (PMS).
Hoteliers are urged to adopt AI to harness real-time data and transform hotel operations.
The Phocuswright Conference, which takes place in Fort Lauderdale from November 13-16, is themed ‘You, Me & the Machine,’ will explore the massive possibilities for AI in the travel space. 
One major focus area at the event is hospitality. 
Entrepreneur Richard Valtr will take one of the main sessions on the Centre Stage to talk about how artificial intelligence is redefining the hotel PMS.
“The post-pandemic travel industry is on the cusp of unprecedented change due to rapidly advancing AI, meaning the hotel industry faces new challenges and opportunities,” said Gene Ko, director of marketing and communications at Phocuswright.  ADVERTISEMENT“Hotel operators today have unparalleled access to real-time and forecast data. 
“However, they need the ability to translate it into actionable insights that can be applied to everyday operations. 
“The traditional PMS – which is used to informing operating decisions based on historic data – is no longer fit for the challenge. 
“It must be redefined to enable hotels to survive and thrive in this new era of travel.”
Attendees at The Phocuswright Conference will hear about Valtr’s start-up Mews, a technology company that is using artificial intelligence to rethink hotels’ physical spaces, services and guest experiences. 
Its future-focused PMS is now powering more than 3,500 of the world’s best hospitality brands.
“The PMS needs to bring operational, labour and revenue data together,” continued Ko. 
“When every aspect of the system is connected, leadership can look at the operation holistically, they can respond to the precise situations that unfold each day – and a new kind of decision making can happen.”
The Phocuswright Conference
The Phocuswright Conference ignites solutions and collaboration whenever cutting-edge innovation demands a rethink of our products, services and processes. 
For more information, click here.
Chris O’Toole

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Phocuswright research projects $1.4 trillion in global travel gross bookings in 2023, just four per cent below 2019 levels.
The United States travel market grew to $422 billion in 2022, becoming the first major travel market globally to surpass its 2019 size.
In Europe, travel is well on its way to recovery and normalization in 2023, as Europeans broadly remain eager to travel and continue to prioritize spending on leisure trips, even while facing some economic challenges and shifting their travel shopping and booking activities.ADVERTISEMENTIn APAC, pent-up demand swept in a travel spike.
In China, a dynamic domestic market and a reviving outbound sector will propel total gross bookings of $185 billion in 2024.
Latin America’s travel market experienced a second year of strong double-digit growth in 2022, as gross bookings climbed 37 per cent.
The Middle East travel region grew by 95 per cent year-over-year, partly supported by new players entering this still-developing market.
Travel companies find themselves in an exceptional period, building a competitive edge through innovations in the next game-changing travel technologies.
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More Information
The research was released ahead of the Phocuswright Conference, taking place this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The event offers the brightest mix of attendees, speakers and partners, all of whom will work together toward for a better future for travel.
Find out more on the official website.

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The inaugural Qatar Tourism Awards, developed in partnership with UNWTO, focused on three principal categories: Service Excellence, Cultural Experiences and Smart Solutions. At the awards ceremony, Qatar Tourism Awards also announced a surprise category, the Community Contribution Award, to recognise individual community members who have gone above and beyond to display hospitality and provide exemplary services to visitors.
The winners were announced at a ceremony that took place at Raffles Doha, attended by Basmah Al-Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East at UNTWO and His Excellency Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism. The winners reflected the broad and diverse nature of the tourism sector, including destinations, experiences, hotels and hospitality establishments. They also recognized those leading the way in building a more innovative and sustainable tourism, in line with UNWTO’s key priorities for the sector.
The full list of all the winners can be found on the Qatar Tourism Awards website.  https://www.qatartourism.com/en/qatar-tourism-awards

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A priority for global tourismAccording to data analysed by UNWTO, the majority of the global tourism workforce are young people, many of them without further training or qualifications. At the same time, existing tourism education centres and programmes prioritise hospitality, with UNWTO aiming to fill the gaps and deliver courses and other trainings to allow students to gain knowledge of every part of the diverse sector. Opening the Forum, UNWTO Executive Director Natalia Bayona made clear the opportunities and challenges: Tourism is the top employer of youth: over 50% of its workers aged 25 years old or less1 , while around 882,000 tourism jobs2 per year will require vocational training by 2030.
Ministers of Tourism from Andorra, Bahrain, Guatemala, the Philippines and Zambia brought their expert insights to a high-level Debate on Policies to Foster Innovation & Education for Current and Future Generations. Challenges highlighted included the high turnover of tourism staff in comparison to other economic sectors and the lack of tourism as a subject in schools in most education systems. The discussion explored opportunities for shaping new policies, effective instruments, and global partnerships to support inclusive and sustainable tourism development while addressing the skill gap and creating value-added jobs.
UNWTO presents the Education Toolkit for the incorporation of tourism as a subject in high schoolsWithin the Education Forum, UNWTO presented the Education Toolkit, a guide of recommendations for helping all actors involved on education in the introduction of tourism as a subject of the secondary school curricula with the ultimate goal of attracting and cultivating the right talent for the tourism sector.
The UNWTO Education Toolkit offers an overview of the current status of high schools and vocational education training worldwide, it also gives recommendations derived from the contributions of UNWTO member states, non-member states and academic partners and it also presents successful case studies of integrating tourism education and training in public and private schools. In addition, it includes a comprehensive overview of the benefits, with specialized curricula provided by UNWTO’s academic partners: the Cambridge Assessment International Education, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).
Also at the Forum, participants were given an overview of the recently inaugurated Tourism Academy in Samarkand in collaboration with UNWTO, a key outcome of the country’s strong partnership with UNWTO.ADVERTISEMENTUNWTO – HSLU Bachelor of Science in International Sustainable TourismDuring Bayona’s keynote speech, she also presented the flexible three-year BSc in International Sustainable Tourism that UNWTO and the Swiss public university of Lucerne for Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) have developed to empower the future-oriented transformation of the entire tourism sector. This unique initiative will be the first time that UNWTO has been actively involved in an undergraduate programme, with modules that include a variety of UN-related topics, such as UN Diplomacy & Tourism and Global UNWTO Missions & Initiatives, and deliberately embeds the UN’s values and global goals throughout the courses. The first cohort of the programme will commence in fall 2024 with a first year in Madrid, followed by a remote year and a third last year in Switzerland.
Ulysses Prize for Tourism EducationIn a fitting culmination to the Global Education Forum, Dr. Bao Jigang was honoured with the prestigious Ulysses Prize, a testament to his remarkable contributions to the field of tourism. Awarded as the 16th laureate of this esteemed accolade bestowed by UNWTO for outstanding achievements in the creation and dissemination of knowledge within the realm of tourism, Dr. Bao’s illustrious career stands as a shining example of his invaluable impact. Throughout his distinguished academic journey, he has played a pivotal role in catalysing the growth of domestic tourism, in his homely of the People´s Republic of China, elevating its scale and significance as a premier global tourism destination.

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This summer the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unveiled its plan for Riyadh Expo 2030 during an official reception organized by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City in Paris.
Nearly 180 delegates of member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) attended the reception. Saudi Arabia officially submitted its application to host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, an event that would take place from 1st October 2030 to 31st March 2031. In October of last year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a letter to the BIE submitting a bid for the World Expo 2030.
The plan presented in Paris last June aims to create an exceptional global experience in the history of Expos as it reflects the importance of Riyadh Expo 2030 and its positive role and embodies the exhibition’s central theme: ‘Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.’
“Arabia has a history, a civilization, and powerful moments in the life of the world,” Jack Lang, president of the Arab World Institute and France’s former minister of culture, told Arab News. “Choosing Riyadh as the location for an upcoming World Expo would be a smart and visionary choice.”
The Riyadh Expo 2030 would be held near King Salman International Airport, which is currently being developed, making it easily accessible for visitors arriving there. They can reach the exhibition site within minutes by using the ‘Riyadh Metro’ network, covering all parts of Riyadh city and connecting to one of the three exhibition entrances and the modern road network.ADVERTISEMENTThe exhibition pavilions, estimated to be 226, were designed in a spherical shape, with an equator line running through them. This visual approach aligns with the exhibition’s vision, ensuring equal opportunities for all participants.
“We will make sure to provide an unprecedented experience of high quality for more than 40 million visitors.”
Lamia Bint Abdulaziz, blueprint team Riyadh Expo 2030
The exhibition’s design reflects the ancient urban style, history, culture, and nature of Riyadh city. It also showcases the Kingdom’s shared concern with the rest of the world for the climate and its ambition to foresee a future full of potential.
The pavilions’ locations for participating countries at the exhibition will be flexibly determined based on their longitudes. Such design will bring together countries from the north and south of the globe side by side, symbolizing the Kingdom’s important role in facilitating global cooperation

This will facilitate visitors’ journeys and ensure easy movement between pavilions, public squares, cultural and innovation facilities, food services, rest, and waiting areas in a smooth and flexible manner while covering very short distances. Visitors to the exhibition will enjoy strolling through fully shaded corridors with designs inspired by Riyadh’s architectural heritage.
Visitors can stroll through a modern green oasis located within one of the tributaries of Wadi As-Sulai, which passes through the exhibition site. This demonstrates the Kingdom and Riyadh’s commitment to preserving and sustainably developing nature.
In the same context, a prominent landmark will be built at the heart of the main plan for Riyadh Expo 2030, symbolizing ‘Responsibility for Protecting the Planet.’ It will be based on 195 columns representing the number of countries participating in the exhibition. Surrounding this landmark will be three pavilions, each representing the exhibition’s sub-themes of ‘Prosperity for All’, ‘Climate Action’, and ‘A Different Tomorrow.’
“The blueprint will work on developing a version of the Expo that is the most flexible when it comes to visitors’ movement at the site,” said Lamia Bint Abdulaziz member of the blueprint team for the Riyadh Expo 2030. “We will work on enabling full and balanced participation, and with added value for all participating countries. We will provide unprecedented experience of high quality for more than 40 million visitors.”
The exhibition will also feature the Collaborative Change Corner (C3), an area that will drive innovation and creativity during the seven-year journey leading up to and beyond Riyadh Expo 2030. The C3 aims to showcase how collaboration among the smartest minds in scientific, social, and intellectual innovations can accelerate the changes that will shape our future.
“The Riyadh Expo 2030 is inspired by the natural and traditional features,” said Bint Abdulaziz. “It was designed around a valley surrounded by a group of pavilions for each country, and provides all participating countries with unlimited opportunities, as the exhibition plan offers a wide range of pavilions of different sizes and types with a commitment to allocate a pavilion for each country.”
The Kingdom has announced that it aims to make the Riyadh Expo 2030 the most sustainable and influential Expo ever, in line with its climate commitments to achieving carbon neutrality, a goal that is clearly reflected in the master plan for the exhibition that is linked to international standards of sustainability, including urban afforestation, the use of treated water, and the provision of new energy sources.
The blueprint for the design of the exhibition also takes into account the reuse of the site with the aim of developing an innovative urban model that guarantees sustainability and enhances innovation and creativity.
“Our goal in the Kingdom is to organize the first environmentally friendly exhibition that achieves a zero level of carbon emissions,” said Expo blueprint team member Nouf Bint Majid Al-Muneef. “The Riyadh Expo 2030 site will be powered by clean resources that rely on solar energy, and we are developing high standards for resource efficiencies and detailed strategies to enhance biodiversity, eliminate food waste, and ensure green waste management and recycling.
Source: https://traveltomorrow.com/

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During the summer vacation, climbing enthusiasts will have the opportunity to test their personal limits at dizzying heights in the Munich Airport Center (MAC). Experienced climbers and newbies alike will get to try out new challenges between August 7 and August 30, 2023, when the MAC Forum will play host to a high-rope course specially designed for the airport. Experienced trainers will be at hand to provide instructions and the safety equipment required to use the various climbing stations, which span a height of 15 meters and a width of 23 meters. A two-hour climbing session costs EUR 9 for adults aged 15 and over and EUR 7 for children up to the age of 14.
Slots can be booked by e-mail [email protected] or in person directly on site subject to availability. The high-rope course is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday. After hitting the heights, visitors can relax in a deckchair with a cold drink at the “Surf and Turf Bar”. A ticket for a climbing session entitles the holder to a one-euro drinks discount. The “Surf and Turf Bar” is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Sunday.
Climbers must be at least 125 cm tall and children under 140 cm must be accompanied by an adult.

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The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently reported that the world’s oceans had their warmest June on record, making it the third consecutive month that global ocean temperatures had broken records.According to NOAA, June’s worldwide average temperature of 61.79 degrees made it the warmest June on record.
Ahira Sanchez-Lugo, a climate scientist at NOAA, referred to the rise over last June’s record as “a very substantial leap,” since worldwide monthly records are typically so broad that they frequently move by hundredths less than quarters of a degree.
Climate scientist Natalie Mahowald of Cornell University, also stated that the recent unprecedented temperatures, as well as the dramatic fires, pollution, and floods are exactly the phenomena expected to happen in a warmer environment, as we are only experiencing a tiny fraction of the consequences that are predicted to become more severe as a result of climate change.
The land and sea temperatures set new records for the month of June. Scientists report that the North Atlantic has been abnormally warm since the middle of March, and that monthly high temperatures were established all across the world’s sea surface in the last three months. The United Kingdom and the Caribbean areas both broke records.
Robert Rohde, a researcher at Berkeley Earth, has also said that his team anticipates an 80% possibility that 2023 would set a new global temperature high.ADVERTISEMENTIn an unofficial and early research, the Climate Reanalyzer at the University of Maine found that eleven of the first twelve days of July were hotter than any previously recorded day. According to the globe Meteorological Organization and the Japanese Meteorological Agency, the globe has recently experienced the warmest week on record.
According to Russ Vose, the head of NOAA’s global analysis division, the record-breaking heat of June can be attributed to two main factors: (1) long-term warming due to heat-trapping gases emitted by the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas; and (2) El Nino, which heats parts of the Pacific and changes weather patterns across the globe.
However, since El Nino continues to be regarded as mild to moderate at this point, most of June’s warming was attributable to long-term human factors. According to NOAA and other predictions, 2024 will be considerably hotter than this year since it will reach its peak then.
El Nino and its counterbalance, La Nina, are natural climate fluctuations that have a huge influence on year-to-year temperatures, but their impacts are far lower over the long term than human-caused warming, according to climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of Berkeley Earth and the technology startup Stripe. Every decade, global warming caused by humans contributes as much heat to the atmosphere as a persistent El Nino.
According to NOAA, both the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice levels reached historic lows in June.
Moreover, the global warming is expected to continue, even if many ecosystems and human populations have reached their threshold for heat stress.

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